CH 71

Chapter 71

“This monocle…How should I use it?”

“Hook it in place behind your ear and stare at the desired item for three seconds. Then the information should pop up.”

I gripped the monocle–heavier than expected–in my hand and perched it on my right ear.

When I focused on something that was slightly tinged yellow out of the corner of my eyes, an alarm rang. The front door’s information immediately unfolded before my eyes.

[Standard Door]

Thickness: 55mm

Filling: PUR foam

Size: 1,550 X 2,100 mm

Outer frame type: Nonslip aluminum.

Rank: Not applicable (No risk)

Wow…The explanation’s incredibly detailed?

Honestly, regardless of the information content, but a system would identify and inform the User of objects classified as [Items] when these objects are held or touched directly.

Since this monocle is unable to evaluate living creatures or monsters, it simply functions as a more precise and powerful [System message].

Jung Garam observed me appraising all sorts of items in the room before nodding at me. “It didn’t make you dizzy?”

“Umm…I think it’s fine. I got used to it.”

“Then, let’s go.”

At the separation point, we decided to divide the left section for me and the right for Jung Garam…I was in a hurry to rush, worried about the ticking clock, but Jung Garam took the time to mumble shy words of advice.

He brusquely said, as if he didn’t trust me, “If something’s strange, hide or run. Don’t get greedy and try to appraise more items than is safe.” Though his tone was curt, but I felt that he was worried for me in his own way.

I smiled bashfully, “Yeah. Don’t worry too much about me.”

“Who’s worried? I just don’t want things to get annoying.” Jung Garam, chilly demeanor until the bitter end, fiercely turned away and rushed to the end of the hall. I stared blankly at his fast retreat before coming to my senses and turning towards my own section.

There were 23 ornaments on the right and 17 on the left that were scattered throughout the hallway–Jung Garam chose the section with more potential anchors. He had also thought that there was a particularly suspicious structure on the right and relieved me of the pressure of evaluating it…However, it wasn’t a guarantee; I was loath to leisurely move around and quickened my pace.

Because there were more elevators in my half, many Users in maid uniforms passed by…Though the workers did not pay any particular attention to me, I felt like a spy infiltrating the enemy camp alone.

Furthermore, the hallways weren’t straight–the path zigzagged from room to room.. The inability to see past these frequent corners made my heart pound.

I briefly fantasized about some unknown assailant popping out at me and asking what I was doing here…When I looked down at the map, Jung Garam was already halfway down his hallway. I quickly grounded myself and used the monocle to observe my surroundings.

[A woman with a parasol in a garden]

Size: 6 units

Producer: Artville

Frame: Silver Frame [eng_note] ‘Silver frame’ was written in all English in the original! [/efn_note]

" "

This is a printed copy.

Rank: Not Applicable (no risk)

The first thing I noticed was a rather large picture hanging on the left wall…However, after using the monocle, nothing was particularly significant, so I passed it by.

[Orange Crystal Mini-chandelier]

Voltage rating: 220V/60HZ, 2040W

Rank: Not Applicable (no risk)

The small lights hung on the walls were the same.

Also, after walking around for a while, I felt the limitations of the monocle…It wasn’t enough to just simply look at the highlighted items; one needed to get close enough for the monocle to recognize and identify the item in question. Something like the large painting was readily viewable from far away, but, in the case of the chandeliers, the item’s information did not simply pop up as soon as I stared at it.

In the end, I had to tiptoe close to the wall and stick my face in the light. I almost bumped into a janitor pushing his cart from the opposite side, and I nearly fell to the ground.

In this way, I checked about five more mini chandeliers and other similar printed paintings–like the first one I saw at the entrance to the hallway.

In this way, I checked 16 of the 17 points of interest, but there was no payback. All that remained was a humongous painting at the end of the hallway…

“Excuse me, are you…Lee-kyung-ssi?”

" "

It was then.

A familiar voice suddenly called out to me from behind. I quickly unequipped the monocle and turned towards the speaker.

I made eye contact with a man I shouldn’t have met–not here.

“You are…” I began.

“So it is Lee-kyung-ssi! What brings you here?”

It was Bae Jaemin.

He approached me with an affable smile–though I could intuit nothing further from his mysterious expression. I was on the verge of panic, ‘Why is this man here?!’

“Why do you look so surprised?” Bae Jaemin asked as he observed my rigid face.

I smiled and hid the hand holding the monocle behind my back. “Ah, that’s…I was just surprised to meet Bae Jaemin…nim…here. I wasn’t expecting it at all…I’m just a bit surprised.”

“You look like you’ve been caught red-handed?”

“What?”

“Haha, I’m just kidding.”

His jokes made me inwardly swear.

Just how long had he been following behind me? Looking closely at a painting could be passed off as an interest in art, but closely scrutinizing wall lights would be seen as suspicious.

Furthermore, he said I looked like I’d been caught red-handed.

My mouth felt dry–I couldn’t tell if he had truly been joking or if he had been fleshing out his suspicions, probing at me.

Bae Jaemin looked disappointed to see my frozen face and my unwillingness to continue the conversation. “It wasn’t funny?”

“That…….It’s just……I just don’t have anything to say……”

“I guess I’m the only one that’s happy at our reunion…Aren’t you glad to see me, Lee-kyung-ssi?” He slightly pouted his lips. A stranger might mistake this for teasing amongst intimate friends.

But honestly…between him and I…We originally didn’t have such a good relationship for us to make lighthearted small talk and jokes in a place like this. What kind of person ignores social boundaries like this?

Especially for someone like me that knows of his past deeds…The selfless attitude that he’s currently portraying became nothing more than a suspicious and terrifying act. Why would a person like him change his behavior for no reason?

However, I didn’t have the courage to tell him, ‘We’re not that close.’ Especially because I had no idea whether or not he’d seen me with my face pressed against the wall lights.

So I smiled awkwardly and laughed like a robot. “Ha.ha.ha. I’m so glad to see you that I’m speechless.” I tore into myself internally for such an obviously strange and stupid remark, but Bae Jaemin unexpectedly did not question me about my awkwardness.

Instead, he immediately asked a bothersome question, “Why didn’t you call the number I gave you?”

“Uh…It’s just…I had no reason to…Also, Bae Jaemin-ssi, you’re so busy…Haha.”

“Even if I was busy, I could spare at least 10 minutes for you.”

“10 minutes…I don’t want to steal such valuable time from you…How could I dare….”

“Even several hours spent with Lee-kyung-ssi would not be a waste.” He kept countering me before I had even finished speaking.

From a surface glance, he’s acting like someone who’s desperate to contact me…Why on earth is he acting this way? As expected, is he suspicious of me?

However, is there truly a need to approach a suspect in such a friendly manner? He could just pull some strings behind the scene, violently kidnap me, and harshly interrogate me.

He’s not the type to shy away from sketchy methods…Of all the ways he could approach me, why would he choose to act like this…?

“Are you curious as to why I’m acting like this?” Bae Jaemin asked, as if he had just read my mind. He stabbed right at the heart of the issue, and I missed the timing to deny such thoughts. Eventually, I gathered my courage and looked carefully at him.

When we locked eyes, Bae Jaemin bit his lips, holding back laughter, and muttered. “I’m very curious about Lee-kyung-ssi. Why do you always try to run away like a rabbit whenever you see me…?”

Hold it! What do you mean, rabbit!

I opened my mouth to protest, but Bae Jaemin was one step faster. “I’m curious–you look like someone who knows me well. Even if I treat you well, you put up a lot of barriers…like someone who’s been burned by me once before…”

“……”

Bae Jaemin continued, driving a stake into my speechless body, “We’ve met before, right? Not at the mall…before that.”

TL: I return~ It’s my anniversary so I’m posting this in between going to a few places. Please forgive some of the laxer formatting and lack of editing on my part! (Proofreaders are definitely a godsend~) Also MC is a hamster, not a rabbit~